Can opening device



Nov. 29, 1938. E. .1. WILLIS 2,138,318

CAN OPENING DEVICE Filed July 11, 1938 ATTO RN EYS Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES can OPENING :DEWIGE Elijah .J. Willis, .Morehead'City, N. 6., assignor .oit one-half to Jasper B. Frizze'lle, Snow Hill,

Application .11, 1938, Serial sNn. 125185677 '2 Claims.

My invention relates to-container or can opening devices 'and'has for one of the principal objects thereof the provision of such a device equipped with means for forming pouring and air :openings in the top of a can together with means for sealing said openings whereby to preserve the contents of the can until said contents have been used.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above described character wherein the means for sealing the openings may be actuated in a manner to permit frequent discharge or pouring of a portion of the contents.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the above described character which is simple in operation, durable in construction, efiicient in use, and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my invention illustrating the same applied to a can.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Figure 2, respectively.

In practicing my invention I provide a combination can puncturer, handle and pouring lip construction which comprises a main bar 5 provided at the front end thereof with a forwardly and downwardly directed prong 5a. for penetrating the top 6 of a can I and coacting with said top upon penetration thereof to form a pivot point for said bar. The rear end of the bar is curved downwardly to provide a handle 8 and is fashioned with a transversely extending cross arm 9 arranged intermediate the length thereof at right angles to the bar 5 substantially intermediate the horizontal length of the latter.

The ends of the cross arm 9 are fashioned with outwardly extending recesses constituting pouring lips ID and are provided on the under side of said lips with tubular prongs II which are fully open at the lower ends thereof and communicate at the upper ends thereof with said lips in whereby, when said prongs have been actuated into penetrating position through the top 6 of the can by the action of the bar 5, the liquid contents of said can can be readily poured through one of said prongs upon tilting of the can in a sidewise direction, the other of said prongs serving as an air opening for effecting free flow of said contents.

A l'-shaped bar 1 2 is pivoted to a bracket 13 formed on the upper face of the main bar 5 adjacent the rear end thereof, and the head ends of said bar [2 have secured thereto downwardly extending -stoppers t3 normally positioned within the upper ends'of the prongs l l to-effect sealing of the can. The rear end of the bar I2 is curved downwardly and operable through an aperture formed in the handle 8. A coil spring is carried by the curved rear end of the bar I2 and engages the handle to normally maintain the stoppers in sealing position within the prongs H as clearly illustrated in Figure 3.

The under side of the lips are provided with gaskets 14 which surround the upper ends of the prongs H to effect a seal between said upper ends of the prongs and the top 6 of the can.

When the prong 5a is inserted in the top of the can the bar 5 is pivoted downwardly causing the prongs H to penetrate the top 6 and forms openings therein having depended severed wall sections l5. Each of the prongs H are fashioned on one side with an inwardly offset section I6 subjacent the gaskets Hi to provide a seat IT for accommodating therein one of the wall sections I5 which snap therein and lock the prong thereto to secure the device 6 to the top of the can.

It is to be noted, that the upper ends of the prongs ll are integrally fashioned with the lips l0. However, it is to be distinctly understood that said prongs may be of a separate construction to fit within said lips thereby enabling said prongs to be readily replaced upon wear.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when my device is in engagement with a can as illustrated in full lines in Figure 1, the stoppers l3 coact with the lips ill and prongs II to effect a sealing of the can and thus preserve the contents thereof from the atmosphere. When it is desired to discharge some of the contents of the can, the handle is grasped with the fingers with the thumb overlying the rear end of the T bar I2. Pressure exerted by the thumb upon the rear end of the T bar 12 causes the head end of the T bar l2 to be pivoted upwardly, thereby raising the stoppers l3 out of the upper end of the prongs H and permitting the can to be tilted sidewise to pour the contents thereof through one of the prongs and respective lip thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising, a main bar equipped on the front end thereof with a prong adapted to penetrate the top of a can at one end thereof and to coact with said top to provide a pivot for said bar and said bar on the rear end thereof formed with a handle, a cross arm integrally secured to said main bar and equipped with oppositely disposed pouring end lips, tubular penetrating prongs carried subjacently by said lips and communicating with the latter and adapted for penetrating said top when said main bar is pivoted downwardly thereon whereby to permit liquid contained within said can to be poured through one of said prongs and air to enter to the other of said prongs upon said can being tilted in a. sidewise Y direction relative to said main bar, a T bar pivoted to said main bar and fashioned with apair of ends provided with stoppers normally sealing said tubular prongs and with a curved end operable through said handle, and a spring carried by said curved end and engaging said handle to normally maintain said stoppers in said tubular prongs whereby to maintain said can in sealed condition.

2. A device of the character described, comprising, a main bar equipped on the front end thereof with a prong adapted to penetrate the top of a can at one end thereof and to coact with said top to provide a pivot for said bar and said bar on the rear end thereof formed with a handle, a cross arm integrally secured to said main bar and equipped with oppositely disposed pouring end lips, tubular penetrating prongs carried subjacently by said lips and communicating with the latter and adapted for penetrating said top when said main bar is pivoted downwardly thereon whereby to permit liquid contained within said can tobe poured through one of said prongs and air to enter to the other of said prongs upon said can being tilted in a sidewise direction relative to said main bar, a T bar pivoted to said main bar and fashioned with a pair of ends provided with stoppers normally 

